Vehicle current collector balanced support

ABSTRACT

Current collecting device for a high speed vehicle comprising a collector head mechanically connected to the vehicle by an articulated system which permits relative displacement of the collector head with respect to the vehicle. The articulated system comprises a balancing device including a spring for counterbalancing vertical motion and a mass counterbalancing of lateral motion to maintain equilibrium regardless of the position of the collector head.

United States Patent i 1 1 3,712,430

Charamel et al. 1 Jan. 23, 1973 [54] VEHICLE CURRENT COLLECTOR [56]References Cited BALANCED SUPPORT UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,152,67310/1964 Duffy 3,405,240 10/1968 Kilburg ..l9l/45R [75 lnvent orsz Pierre ""ciai'mei, Les-Cotes-de- Sassenage; Hubert Ligones, Saint- Egreveboth of France Primary ExaminerGerald M. Forlenza 73 Assignee: MEiiTn'i'ceflir," Societe *Am me; jff' f"" B fr l g Rue Henri-rarze, France0mey-- evens, aVlS, 1 er OS er 22 Filed: Jan-11,1971 57 ABSTRACT [21]Appl. No.1 105,300 Current collecting device for a high speed vehiclecomprising a collector head mechanically connected to the vehicle by anarticulated system which permits 1 MvflTijiEllA-Pimafibfi'PfidfiiymtaMum-r relative displacement of the collector head with Dec. 14,1970France ..7045086 respect the vehicle- The articulated System prises abalancing device including a spring 'for counterbalancing verticalmotion and a mass counteri Cl 7 191/65 balancing of lateral motion tomaintain equilibrium re- [51 1 Int. Cl. gardless of the position of thecolle tor head [58] Field of Search ..l9l/45, 45 A, 49, 50, 59, 65,

' 191/64, 48, 45 R 1 14 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 6a 42 $2 36' Li 2/46 x10 v 24 so 6 PATENTEDJAN23IH75 3,712,430 sum 1 or 2 PATENTEDJANZB 197s3.712 430 sum 2 [IF-2 VEHICLE CURRENT COLLECTOR BALANCED SUPPORT Theinvention relates to a device for supplying current to a vehicle capableof traveling over a track, and especially for feeding a linear electricpropulsion motor for operating with ground effect. The ravel systemincludes feed conductors and current collectors in the form of railswhich extend virtually parallel to each other along the propulsion trackand are arranged with respect to each other in such a way as to define acurrent conducting track capable of mechanically guiding, by means ofcurrent collecting brushed in contact with the rails, a support shuttleor collector head for the brushes. The apparatus also includes a systemof articulated levers connected mechanically to the shuttle of theaforementioned vehicle which is capable of transmitting a tractive forceto the shuttle and compensates for the lateral and vertical variationsin position in the position of the shuttle and of the vehicle which arerespectively guided by the collecting track of the propulsion track.

Current collecting devices of the same general type as disclosed hereinhave already been suggested, especially in the French application of the4th addition No. 70 33176, filed Sept. 1 l, 1970, in which theconnection between the current collecting shuttle and the vehicle beingsupplied with current is obtained by articulated systems of thepantograph type which permit relative displacement of the shuttle withrespect to the vehicle. The aforementioned devices permit differentfiltering arrangements of the forces transmitted to the shuttle, guidedin its movement by the current collectors in such a way as not todisturb the equilibrium of the shuttle. The devices of this kind areconceived particularly for supplying current to linear electricpropulsion motors of vehicles which are sustained by ground effect andwhich travel at high speed, for example at several hundreds ofkilometers an hour and in which the relative movements of the vehiclewith relation to the propulsion track,especially the lateral andvertical displacements, are particularly important. It has beenascertained that at the high speeds attained by these vehicles thedevices known at present do not permit perfect filtering of forces andthey transmit to the shuttle lateral or vertical components whichoccasion different or unequal attrition of the brushes in contact withthe feed conducting rails.

The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages ofthe aforementioned devices and to permit the realization of a connectingdevice between a vehicle and a current-collecting shuttle, in which onlythe component of the propulsion force is transmitted by the vehicle tothe shuttle.

The device for supplying current in accordance with this invention ischaracterized by the fact that it consists of a virtually vertical shaftwith one end attached to the shuttle by an articulation; the other endconsists of an element of the system with articulated levers having axesof articulation parallel to the general direction of the tracks so thatthe articulated levers extend and move about in planes virtuallyorthogonal to the tracks. The device also includes a balancing devicecapable of maintaining equilibrium without regard to the shuttleassembly and the system of levers for all positions of the shuttlerelative to the vehicle, near the normal position of operation.

Another purpose of the invention is to realize a system of articulatedlevers which will put into action only the fixed or mobilearticulations, to the exclusion of all other relative displacement, forexample the cam. The collection devices are exposed to atmosphericconditions, and it has been established that reliable operation can notbe assured except by mechanical systems which are particularly simpleand can be easily maintained.

This invention has likewise as its purpose the compensation, in allpositions, of the weight of the shuttle which bears the mechanism forcollection of current, which weight is not at all negligible. Theinvention emanates from the statement that every movement of the shuttlein a plane extending transversely with respect to the general directionof travel, can be broken up into a vertical or a lateral movement.Counterbalancing the weight of the shuttle can be preserved byincorporating compensating systems in the system of articulated levers,the purpose of one system being the counterbalancing of upward anddownward motion and the other being the counterbalancing of lateralmotion. It is understood that the combination of these two devices willpermit the maintenance of equilibrium regardless of the position of theshuttle with respect to the vehicle.

According to the development of the invention, the verticalcounterbalancing device includes a counterbalancing spring anchored at afixed point on the middle of a small rod with its extremitiesarticulated respectively to a pivot lever and at an extension parallelto and opposed to the latter by one of the articulated levers, in such away as to modify the line of action of the spring and to maintainconstant support couple for the shuttle in all horizontal positions.

According to another development of the invention, the lateralequilibrium device includes a bar mounted so that it can pivot; andparallel to the vertical bar in the normal position, there is amechanical connection with the system of articulated levers making thepivoting bar pivot proportionally to the pivoting of the vertical barfor holding the shuttle, and a system which cooperates withthe barpivoting in such a way as to balance the weight of the shuttle in alllateral positions of the latter.

On winding routes the effect of centrifugal force acting on the shuttleimpels the latter to press against the rails exterior to the bend, whichsubmits them to the accrued efforts resulting from wear and injuriousdisequilibrium.

According to a development of the invention, the weight balancing deviceof the shuttle, in case of lateral displacement, includes a solidarranged in such a way that the centrifugal forces applied to this solidcompensates automatically the forces acting on the shuttle.

The variations in position of the shuttle with respect to the vehicleresult on the one hand from variations in the deviations of the currentfeeding track with respect to the propulsion route, and from deviationsof the vehicle with respect to the latter, which variations presentnotable amplitudes but of elevated period, and on the other hand byvariations imposed on the shuttle by imperfections in the currentfeedingtrack, which are variations of weak amplitude butgenerally of highfrequency.

According to the invention, the system of articulated levers compensatesfor the variations first mentioned while an elastic system, arranged byexample in the zone of attachment of the shuttle to the support rod,permits recovery from the second mentioned variations.

The assembly of articulated levers is of course housed inside acompartment for support and protection, the external profile of thecompartment being streamlined to diminish the drag on the vehicle.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will be apparentfrom the description which follows and which shows the invention inoperation by way of example, which is not limited, and is represented bythe attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view, in elevation at a distorted scale, of asystem of articulated levers according to the invention, which is shownin a normal intermediate position by line drawing, and the positiontaken by the different levers in case of vertical shifting relative tothe shuttle in a downward direction is marked by the shafts withcomposite axes;

FIG. 2 is a view analogous to FIG. 1 showing by composite line thepositions of the different levers in case of lateral shifting in thedirection of arrow F of the shuttle with relation to the vehicle.

In the figures, avehicle which is held in suspension by a cushion ofcompressed air which is developed between the bottom of the vehicle andthe propulsion route (not shown) is propelled by a linear electric motor(not shown), the induced part of which is generally constituted by aprojecting plate (not shown) of the guiding track of the vehicle.Parallel to the guiding track of the vehicle 10 there is extended acollecting track, or an intake of current connection, consisting ofthree feed conductors in the form of rails 12, 12', 12", arranged insuch a manner as to define the groove, on the interior of which acomponent in the form of a shuttle slides and carries brushes for intakeof current (not shown), and is incited elastically to contact theassociated rails 12, 12' 12''. The feeding device, or intake of currentdevice,is of a type of self-guided shuttle described in theaforementioned application for patent, which may be referred to for morecomplete details.

The current collecting shuttle, or collector head, 14 is articulated tothe end of a vertical bar 16 by the medium of a universal joint 18composed of elastic parts 20, capable of pennitting small displacementsof the shuttle with relation to bar 16. Joint 18 can likewise consist oftwo concentric sockets, one bound to bar 16 and the other bound to thebody of shuttle 14, the space between the two sockets being filled withan elastic substance such as rubber. The swivel or articulation 18 isadvantageously positioned to the center of symmetry or the center ofpull of shuttle 14. Bar 16 extends in a virtually vertical direction andis articulated at two of its points 22 and 24 located in the middle 0the small rods 26 and 28. r

One end of each of the small bars 26 and 28 is articulated at 32 to anoscillating lever 34 which is mounted to swivel on the fixed point 36,the term fixed being used in the sense that the point is integral tovehicle 10. The small rod 28 has at the right of joint 32 an opening 31which permits a small displacement of the small rod 28 with relation tojoint 32 in case of lateral displacement, which is more particularlydescribed later herein in reference to FIG. 2. The opposite ends 30 and38 of small rods 26 and 28 are respectively articulated to theoscillating levers 40 and 42 which extend parallel to each other and inthe direction opposite to lever 34 relative to the vertical bar 16. Theoscillating lever 40 has an extension 44 to form a bell crank levermounted to pivot on the fixed point 46. The end of oscillating lever42is articulated at 48 on a bar extending virtually parallel to thevertical bar 16, and mounted to pivot on its end upon the fixed point52. The different levers mentioned above preferably consist of pairs ofparallel levers spaced in such a way as to facilitate their articulationand to augment the rigidity of the articulated system. 1

Before describing in greater detail the different balancing arrangementsaccording to the invention, the functioning of the aforementionedarticulated system will be briefly described. In case of a variation inlevel between the propulsion route and the collecting track l2, 12',12'', shuttle 14, for example, is impelled to change position toward thebottom as seen in FIG. 1. A change in position of rod 16 attendant uponthe lowering of shuttle 14 changes the position of points 22 and 24 ofthe small rods 26 and 28 towards the bottom by imposing a pivoting oflever 34 around joint 36. In this displacement, the point ofarticulation 32 describes a circumference with center 36. In a similarmanner points 30 and 38 describe circumferences of inverse curvaturewith respect to the centers 46 and 48. It is easy to see that since thelength of levers 34, 40 and 42 are virtually identical, points 24 and 22describe virtually a trajectory defined by the axis of bar 16, which isin descending motion maintained practically on its axis. Such a movementis well known in mechanics by the name three-bar movement."

In case of lateral displacement of shuttle 14, for example in thedirection indicated by arrow F in FIG. 2, bar 16 is led to pivot aroundthe point of articulation 22, which is held in place by the oscillatinglevers 34 I and 40, a pivoting which provokes a displacement in thedirection of arrow F from point 34 and from the end 38 permitted byopening 31. This transfer of articulation 38 is transmitted by lever 42to point 48, which imposes on bar 50 a pivoting around the fixed joint52, displacing bar 50 in the direction of arrow F, opposed to thedisplacement of rod 16.

The balancing device forthe weight of shuttle 14 during a verticalmovement is realized by a draw-spring 54 anchored to the fixed point 56and on its opposite end to the middle 58 of a small rod 60, one of theends of which is articulated at 62 to extension 44, and the other end isarticulated at 64 to a pivoting lever 66 which extends parallel toextension 44 in the normal position represented by FIG. 2, lever 66being mounted to pivot at the fixed point 68. The assembly of levers 44,66 and little rod 60 constitute an articulated system calledthree-barsystem analogous to the aforementioned device, and it is easy to seethat during a pivoting movement of lever 40 and of its end 44 aroundarticulation 46, point 58 is led to move in virtually a straight linemarked on FIG. 1 by X and X. The displacement of point 58 modifies theline of action of spring 54 and permits compensation for the increase ordecrease in the force of the spring resulting from a shortening or aprolongation of spring 54. The system consisting of spring 54 and shortrod 60 permits compensation for the weight of shuttle 14 in all verticalpositions.

The system for compensation in case of lateral displacement consists ofa solid 70 which is capable of changing position, for example with theaid of support rollers 72 along a convex gradient 74 which has itsmedian part in the form of a horisontal level 76. Solid 70 has a stub 78engaged in vertical opening 80 cut at the end of bar 50, for example inthe direction of arrow F which leads solid 70 along ramp 74 on thegradient, the force of gravity tending then to accentuate the pivotingin the direction F. The resulting torque can be determined in a way tocompensate exactly the torque exercised by shuttle 14 due to lateraldisplacement in the direction of arrow F.

On a curve, shuttle 14 and solid 70 are submitted to centrifugal forcesproportionate to their masses and they are exercised in the samedirection. For an appropriate choice of solid and of lever arms it ispossible to obtain perfect compensation of the torque resulting from theaforementioned centrifugal forces. It is understood that the solidsystem 70, which is mobile on gradient 74 can be replaced, for exampleby a pendulum system. The fixed gradient 74 is integral with vehicle 10.

The assembly of joints of the lever system described above consists ofhorizontal axes extending parallel to the line of movement of thevehicle. The pivot joints 36, 46, 52 and 68, called fixed, areunderstood to have axes integral with a support beam schematicallyrepresented in 82 fastened to the lateral wall of the vehicle andstanding out laterally from the latter. Beam 82 is advantageouslyarranged in a hollow housing for protection and for enclosing theassembly of articulated levers, the exterior profile of this housingbeing stream-lined to diminish the drag.

The support device according to the invention functions in the followingmanner:

In case of relative displacement of shuttle 14 with relation to vehicle10 being effected in a vertical direction, for example towards thebottom indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1, it is easy to see that thevertical bar 16 pulls then, by its lowering, the articulation points 22and 24 which impose on the small rods 26 and 28 a pivoting which istransmitted to levers 34, 40 and 42, which have just taken the positionindicated in the composite drawing, F IGL l. Articulation 32 describes acircumference with center 36 with curvature oriented toward axis 36,while articulations 30 and 38 describe circumferences with centersrespectively 46 and 48 having inverse curvature. Calculation or thediagrams can show that bar 16 carried by points 22 and 24 describes inthis case virtually a line of movement downward of the bar effectedpractically without any lateral displacement. Lever 40 with extension 44pivots around the fixed point 46 and imposed on small rod 60 adisplacement represented by the composite drawing in FIG. 1. Thisdisplacement is translated by a displacement of the anchor point ofspring 54 on axis X-X' downward and toward the left of the figure whichmodifies the length of the spring and the line of application of forceby the spring, and the relations of the levers are adjusted in such away as to maintain constant connection capable of balancing in allpositions the weight of shuttle 14. A displacement upward provokes, ofcourse, a symmetrical deformation of the articulated system by theshortening of spring 54, and from this fact there is a decrease in theapplied'force, which is accompanied by a displacement upward of theanchorage point 58 which increases the lever am so that it maintains aconstant connection.

Referring to FIG. 2, it is seen that lateral displacement of shuttle 14with relation to vehicle 10 provokes a pivoting of bar 16 aroundarticulation 22 which is held in place by levers 34 and 40. Thisdisplacement or pivoting around joint 22 provokes a displacement towardthe right indicated by the arrow F in FIG. 2 in case of displacementtoward the left indicated by arrow F of shuttle 14. This displacementwhich is imposed on joint 24 is transmitted by joint 38 and [ever 42 tothe point of articulation 48 which provokes a pivoting of thecompensation bar 50 around its pivot 52. It is evident from FIG. 2 thata displacement of bar 16 towards the left in the direction of arrow Fimplies a displacement of bar 50 toward the right in the direction ofarrow F The displacement of bar 50 draws the solid or carriage throughthe medium of opening and stub 78 along the gradient 74 or under theeffect of its weight it tends to slide towards the bottom and towardsthe right of the figure. It is easy to see that the torque exercised byweight 70 is exercised in a direction opposed to the torque caused byshuttle 14 being off center, the relations between the solids and thelever arms being judiciously chosen in such a way as to realize perfectbalance.

A composite displacement can of course be distorted into a verticaldisplacement and a lateral displacement, provoking a distortion in thesystem of articulated levers, which places into operation thecompensation devices by spring 54 and the compensation device by solid70 in such a way that shuttle 14 is maintained in neutral balance at allpoints.

The invention is of course not at all limited to the method of operationdescribed in detail and represented by way of example in the attacheddrawings, but it extends quite to the contrary to all other variantswithin the framework of mechanical equivalents.

What is claimed is l. A mechanism for use with a high speed vehiclemovable along a trackway to drive and support a current collecting headguided in a longitudinal current supplying passageway extendingparallelly to said trackway, said mechanism comprising rod meansextending substantially transversely of the longitudinal direction ofsaid passageway and having an end swingable connected to said collectorhead, linkage means pivotally connected to a portion of said rod meansspaced apart from said end and adapted for connection to said vehicle todrive said collector head along said passageway, said linkage meansextending substantially perpendicularly to said longitudinal directionand being adapted to pennit said rod means to execute smalltranslational and oscillating movements perpendicularly to saidlongitudinal direction, and balance means connected to said linkagemeans and tending to maintain said collector head substantially inneutral equilibrium in said passageway for all positions of saidcollector head adjacent the mean normal operating position thereof.

. means comprising a plurality of substantially coplanar rods pivotallyconnected to one another.

6. A mechanism according to claim 5, said plurality of rods comprising afirst pair of pivoting rods, pivot mean movably connecting together afirst end of the pivoting rods of said first pair, a second pair ofpivoting rods extending transversaly of the lengthwise direction of therods of said first pair, respectively, and pivotally connected to theopposite end of the respective pivoting rod of said first pair to permitsmall longitudinal and angular movements thereof, said portion of saidrod means having a pair of pivots spaced apart transversaly of saidlongitudinal direction to pivotally connect said rod means to a pivotcenter intermediate the ends of the pivoting rods of said first pair,respectively, and guide means for said pivot means to permit saidlongitudinal and angular movements of said pivoting rods of said firstpair, said balance means comprising bias means connected to at least onepivoting rod of said second pair. to counteract the effect of the weightof said collector head on said rod means.

7. A mechanism according to claim 6, said pivot means cooperating withlost motion means to permit said angular movements.

8. A mechanism according to claim 6, said guide means comprising aswinging rod extending transversa- 1y of said rod means. a

9. A mechanism according to claim 6, said balance means comprisingmotion amplifying mean operatively connected to one of the pivoting rodsof said second pair to tend to maintain said collector headsubstantially in neutral equilibrium after angular movement of said rodmeans responsive to lateral deviation of said collector head.

10: A mechanism accordingto claim 6, further comprising pendulum meansfree to swing in a plane transverse of said longitudinal direction andoperatively connected to at least one of the pivoting rods of saidsecond pair to compensate the effect of centrifugal forces acting uponsaid collector head. 7

11. A mechanism according to claim 9, said pendulum means'comprising aswinging lever extending substantially parallel to said rod means andhaving a first end pivotally connected to a fulcrum adapted forconnection to said vehicle and a second end'connected through lostmotion means to a mass, said one pivoting rod of said second pair beingpivotally connected to said swinging lever intermediate the endsthereof, said balance means further comprising guide means for said masscausingamplification of the lateral deviation of said swinging leversubsequentto angular movement of said rod mean responsive to lateraldeviation of said collector head with respect to said vehicle so as tomaintain said collector head. substantially in neutral equilibrium aftersaid lateral deviation thereof.

12. A mechanism according to claim 6, said balance means comprisingreducing motion means cooperating with a mass guided formovementtransversaly of said longitudinal direction.

13. A mechanism according to claim 12, said balance means comprising acam surface adapted for connection to said vehicle to guide said mass.

14. A mechanism according to claim 12, said reducing motion devicecomprising a swinging lever extending substantially parallel to said rodmeans and having a first endpivotally connected to a fulcrum adapted forconnection to said vehicle and a second end connected to said mass,oneof the pivoting rods of said second pair being pivotally connected tosaid swinging lever intermediate the ends thereof.

I a a s a a v

1. A mechanism for use with a high speed vehicle movable along atrackway to drive and support a current collecting head guided in alongitudinal current supplying passageway extending parallelly to saidtrackway, said mechanism comprising rod means extending substantiallytransversely of the longitudinal direction of said passageway and havingan end swingable connected to said collector head, linkage meanspivotally connected to a portion of said rod means spaced apart fromsaid end and adapted for connection to said vehicle to drive saidcollector head along said passageway, said linkage means extendingsubstantially perpendicularly to said longitudinal direction and beingadapted to permit said rod means to execute small translational andoscillating movements perpendicularly to said longitudinal direction,and balance means connected to said linkage means and tending tomaintain said collector head substantially in neutral equilibrium insaid passageway for all positions of said collector head adjacent themean normal operating position thereof.
 2. A mechanism according toclaim 1, further comprising inertia means free to move transversaly ofsaid longitudinal direction and operatively connected to said linkagemeans to compensate the effect of centrifugal forces acting upon saidcollector head.
 3. A mechanism according to claim 1, said balance meanscomprising resilient bias means.
 4. A mechanism according to claim 3,said resilient bias means comprising spring mean adapted for connectionto said vehicle.
 5. A mechanism according to claim 1, said linkage meanscomprising a plurality of substantially coplanar rods pivotallyconnected to one another.
 6. A mechanism according to claim 5, saidplurality of rods comprising a first pair of pivoting rods, pivot meanmovably connecting together a first end of the pivoting rods of saidfirst pair, a second pair of pivoting rods extending transversaly of thelengthwise direction of the rods of said first pair, respectively, andpivotally connected to the opposite end of the respective pivoting rodof said first pair to permit small longitudinal and angular movementsthereof, said portion of said rod means having a pair of pivots spacedapart transversaly of said longitudinal direction to pivotally connectsaid rod means to a pivot center intermediate the ends of the pivotingrods of said first pair, respectively, and guide means for said pivotmeans to permit said longitudinal and angular movements of said pivotingrods of said first pair, said balance means comprising bias meansconnected to at least one pivoting rod of said second pair to counteractthe effect of the weight of said collector head on said rod means.
 7. Amechanism according to claim 6, said pivot means cooperating with lostmotion means to permit said angular movements.
 8. A mechanism accordingto claim 6, said guide means comprising a swinging rod extendingtransversaly of said rod means.
 9. A mechanism according to claim 6,said balance means comprising motion amplifying mean operativelyconnected to one of the pivoting rods of said second pair to tend tomaintain said collector head substantially in neutral equilibrium afterangular movement of said rod means responsive to lateral deviation ofsaid collector head.
 10. A mechanism according to claim 6, furthercomprising pendulum means free to swing in a plane transverse of saidlongitudinal direction and operatively connected to at least one of thepivoting rods of said second pair to compensate the effect ofcentrifugal forces acting upon said collector head.
 11. A mechanismaccording to claIm 9, said pendulum means comprising a swinging leverextending substantially parallel to said rod means and having a firstend pivotally connected to a fulcrum adapted for connection to saidvehicle and a second end connected through lost motion means to a mass,said one pivoting rod of said second pair being pivotally connected tosaid swinging lever intermediate the ends thereof, said balance meansfurther comprising guide means for said mass causing amplification ofthe lateral deviation of said swinging lever subsequent to angularmovement of said rod mean responsive to lateral deviation of saidcollector head with respect to said vehicle so as to maintain saidcollector head substantially in neutral equilibrium after said lateraldeviation thereof.
 12. A mechanism according to claim 6, said balancemeans comprising reducing motion means cooperating with a mass guidedfor movement transversaly of said longitudinal direction.
 13. Amechanism according to claim 12, said balance means comprising a camsurface adapted for connection to said vehicle to guide said mass.
 14. Amechanism according to claim 12, said reducing motion device comprisinga swinging lever extending substantially parallel to said rod means andhaving a first end pivotally connected to a fulcrum adapted forconnection to said vehicle and a second end connected to said mass, oneof the pivoting rods of said second pair being pivotally connected tosaid swinging lever intermediate the ends thereof.